Help with Robot Height - Does the ball count?

[joe3090]

Ok. I need to know:
- In the manual, it says that when the competition starts, the robot can be no more than 60 inces tall. Does it include the game pieces (basketballs)?
I really don't know.

HELP!!! We need this info to design our robot.

[scottydoh]

Happy to see you figured things out and posted the question! Little bit of advice before other people chime in, in general try to make your thread titles a little more specific than just "Help!" On that note, mod, please change title?

[team 3311]

no it shouldn't you can design away the 60'' rule is just for items attached to your robot

[EricH]

Personal: I don't think so. This has been brought up in the past and this was the answer.

Practical/official: CD is not Q&A. Your next assignment is to post this question in the official FRC Q&A.

[Mr V]

As noted for the official answer you need to ask it in the FRC Q&A. That being said based on the past interpretation no. For example in last years game teams were allowed to posses their Uber-tube at start with the vast majority of the Uber-tube outside of the starting dimensions.

[thefro526]

Relevant Rules:

[R02]
The Robot must satisfy the following size constraints:
-horizontal dimensions must not exceed 28 by 38 in.,
-the absolute height must not exceed 84 in.,
-the height of the Robot at the start of the match must not exceed 60 in.,
-any appendage may not extend more than 14 in. beyond the frame perimeter, and
-no other part of the Robot may extend beyond the vertical projection of the Frame Perimeter (with the exception of minor protrusions permitted per [R01-2]).

[G01]
When placed on the Court, each Robot must be in compliance with all Robot rules, may not exceed 60 in. tall, and have all appendages within its Frame Perimeter. The Robot must be in contact with its Key, and may contain up to two Basketballs.
Violation: Disabled for the Match and re-Inspection if an illegal Robot

Relevant Q&A Question:

Q. Can a robot use one or both allocated balls by having them on the ground touching the robot rather than containing the balls within the frame perimeter?

A. No. If a Ball is not contained by the Robot, it will be considered unused and placed on the Coopertition Bridge

Looking at those three items, It seems that the balls must be entirely contained within the robots starting volume to satisfy [G01].

If having a ball that is contained within the vertical projection of the frame perimeter, but not contained within it's 60" starting volume is something that is absolutely necessarily for your design, then you may want to ask the Q&A to get a definitive ruling on it's legality - though I'm fairly sure the above answer applies to the 60" height.

(Note, this is just my interpretation of the above rules and rulings, it may or may not hold true during competition - the Q&A is the only place to get official interpretations of the rules.)

[nssheepster]

Originally Posted by joe3090

Ok. I need to know:
- In the manual, it says that when the competition starts, the robot can be no more than 60 inces tall. Does it include the game pieces (basketballs)?
I really don't know.

HELP!!! We need this info to design our robot.

"[R02]
The Robot must satisfy the following size constraints:
A. horizontal dimensions must not exceed 28 by 38 in.,
B. the absolute height must not exceed 84 in.,
C. the height of the Robot at the start of the match must not exceed 60 in.,
D. any appendage may not extend more than 14 in. beyond the frame perimeter, and
E. no other part of the Robot may extend beyond the vertical projection of the Frame Perimeter (with the
exception of minor protrusions permitted per 0)."

The game pieces are not included in these constarints. In addition, inspection is usually conducted outside of the macth, without game piecews. I highly doubt that the balls will count. Even if they do, how can they prove it when any instances are in the middle of gameplay?
All in all, I think you're good.

[nssheepster]

Sorry, I don't spell very well.

[KennyLives]

I can almost assure you that they don't count towards the overall Robot height.
I posted the question on Q&A, so we should get an official result soon.